Process for coloring photographs or the like



Feb. 13, 1945, 2,369,476

PRocEss FOR coLoRING PHOTOGRAPHS oR THE LIKE l u u J. L. MARIANI PIAZZA Filed June 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l u ww Feb. 13, 1945. J. I1 MARIANI PlAzzA 2,369,475

PRocEss FOR oo LoRING PHOTOGRAPHS 0R THE LIKE Filed June 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yradiations foreign toA its Patented Feb. 13, 419475 UNITED 'STATES' PATENT olFFrcl:

Pnocnss Fonggelgilnoroemrns Jose Luis Mariani Piazza, Seville,vS1ai.n Application June 5, 1940, Slil N0. 338,927v -I 15 Claims.

This invention An additional object of my invention is to provide a novel paper or transparency particularly` adapted for carrying out the present method.

In ordinary processes o! coloring photographs, the color acts by subtraction. That is, the coat of uniform transparent color overlying the black, white and gray image stops or detains the light color, and the white, black or gray of the black and White image is converted into an intensity gradationoi the given color up to tain the same white in all the diiferent parts of the image regardless of the intensity of the light reected by the black, white or gray image. Y

This is not in accordance with what takes Vpiace in reality or in parts of a real object, the color becomes purer, that is. the proportion or percentage of white 7 print immediately after is less. This is due, among other things, to the fact that the` white surface reflection is less on the shaded parts since dinarily receive more dilused light. liant surface reflection e dull bodies such as fabrics, ordinarily appreciated.

very small brilliant feet the eye, and consequently the resulting color' an opaque color; and

gray mixed with white 25 has a larger shadedparts. L

In order to obtain this effect on color photographs, I have developed a process-in which, instead of completely substituting a -gradation of color for the gradation of white, gray and black, I let stand Dart of that gradation of white, gray and black and add thereto a gradation of .color having a substantially invariable proportion of white therein. This gradation of color is of the same order in intensity as the gradations of black, white and gray in the image, but is of much lower contrast. In fact, in some applications of the process I prefer that the color be uniform. 'I'hat is, all of one intensity.

In order to obtain this effect, I divide the image into very small juxtaposed elements1.\Some small parts oi these elements subsist in the original intensity and constitute an image in white,

an image also, and these I bleach to a very low contrast and intensity, or lI may bleach 'them to pure white. These latter white or very light elements are then dyed with the transparent color to give'the nal color image, while the black, white and gray image supplies the contrast and brilliance.

In connection with the following description reference may be had to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section of developed black and white the first step in the process; A

Fig. 2 is a section of the print of Fig.. 1 after the transparent color has been applied;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of one form of my improved process:

Fig. 4 is a sectiomof a specially prepared phoexposed and developed;

Fig. 5 is a section of the sheet of Fig. 4 after the transparent color has been applied;

Fig. 6 is a'ow chart showing the steps in preparing, exposing andV developing the sheet of Figs. 4 and 5; v

Fig. is a section of a transparency made according to the present invention; Fig. 8 isa section of a sheet made by a modincatlon of my process; l

Fig. 9 is a sectionoi' a sheet adapted to receive Fig. 10 is allow chart showing the steps in making. the print oi Fig. 9.

percentage of white than in the gray and black. .'I'he other elements constitute tographic paper immediately after it has been tact printing paper, y a regular 4 or irregular pattern I is printed on the developed and fixed print Il with grease ink and, thus, the covered parts e are protected against future operations (Fig. i). The photograph is then introduced into a bleach which diminishes the contrast and intensity in the portions I2 where there is no grease protection, thus producing a thin, soft image, or an image completely substituted by little white dots ncation of the above process (see Fig.' '7);

which is juxtaposed anothercolored image. The

two images are so intimately mixed that the eye sees them -as one. The steps in this process are plotted in Fig. 3. V

As the dyed image has been bleached, it will not have any pure black sections, but white and gray,

or white only, depending upon the extent of the v bleaching operation, and upon the application ofthe transparent color, this color will give -to the parts corresponding to the black sections of the image a dark color when observed together with the juxtaposed black dots. Thisavoidsthe difficulty experienced when coloring photographs by the ordinary process with transparent colors,

which consists in the fact that the black partsv of the image do not seem to take the color. This is due to the subtracting character of the process. That is, the black does not reflect any light through the applied color and therefore no color is seen.

The black, white and gray image, which is protected by the grease, increases the proportion of ,Y whiteness in the light parts of the image and because of the great contrast of its pure white, gray and black sections. image.

. A paper'especially adapted for carryingout the process may be made as follows and is shown in Fig. 4, thesteps in the process being'set out in order in Fig. 6. The support paper I3 should be very permeable to the developing and 'iixing solutions so that the exposed emulsion can be developed and ilxedthrough the back of the paper. This paper is provided witha suitable light sensitive emulsion layer Il covered'by an impermeable varnish or collodion' layer I5. Upon the collodion layer I5 'is printed a multiplicity of microscopic spaced do'ts I8 made up of nated with a vsoluble lter dye. With ordinary lit contributes vigor to the gelatin impregthen placedin a lter dye bath which is only by the uncovered gelatin 30 since the white 4 On the oppobromide Aprojection papers, this lter dye'may be l I yellow or light orange, depending u`pon the strength of image desired beneath these dots.

The .paper as above L through a negative andv washed in the usual manner solutions reach the emulsion developed, fixed and excepting that the through the back of thepaper. While development of the image is also removed from taking piace, the dye will be the overlying gelatin dots. The imagev if examined through a magnifying glass at this point in the process will 'show a normal image made .up of spaced elements I1 lying between the gelatin dots, and a second very thin imagemade upof spaced elements I8 lying beneath the gelatin dots. -This secondk image is very thin because the actinic light reaching the gelatin dots was Vinhibited by the filter dye Ain these dots.

prepared is exposed sensitive emulsion through the side of a 'sheet layer of gelatin easily absorbs'a opaque white dots y 2,369,471: f f

The print is now colored with transparent color such as anilin dyes which are readily absorbed by the gelatin dots'but are'not absorbed by the collodion layer. The nal image, therefore, is made up of dyed gelatin dots I9 overlying a thin image and a. black, white and grey image interspersed between these dots (Fig. 5).

A transparency may be made by a This is coating the sensitive emulsion 20 on one of film stock, waterproof Cellophane, or the like 2i, and coating the other. side with the spaced dots 22 of gelatin carrying the iilter dye. This sheet is exposed through the done by side carrying thedots and then is developed,-

flxed and washed in the usual manner to produce the two separate images previously mentioned and to remove the filter dye. The washed transon the dot carrying side may be made by a modiilcation of the above which consists in coating the paper, iilm or the like 23 with a-sensitive emulsion 24 (Fig. 8).` The emulsion 24 is then coated with a, multiplicity of dots 25 of col lodion and the sensitive emulsion dyed with a soluble filter dye as dyeing step,`the emulsion hasabsorbed the insensitive dye, becomes relatively insensitive to light, while the emulsion reachesit and no dyeA is absorbed by the colpaper or transparency is then exposed, developed, fixed, colored in the manner previously described:

1f it is desired to prepare a mm to lte colei-edi example oil colors, a

with dull colors, as for transparent sheet of paper, cellophane, stock, or the like On top of this is printed al multiplicityv of .semi- 29. n ot absorb -lodion which will dyes. AThe film is absorbed particles do not absorb the color. site side of the transparent support paper, film or the like, a sensitive emulsion 3l is spread. This emulsion is exposed through the side carrying the Y .white dots 29, and the dots, even I claim:

l. The lmethod "of preparing photographic papers or 'films particularly adapted for use in producing colored photographs-which comprises, coating a sheet of paper, film or the like witha light sensitive emulsion, coating said emulsion with a multiplicity of minute parent areasl of collodion,1 and sion inthe areas between transparent areas with a soluble filter out a substantial portion said emulsion is sensitive.

dye adapted to slightmodii the print to produce the indicated at 26. After the between the dots which beneath the dots remains sensitive, since no dyewashed and 1 21, is coated with avery thin Vor other substance 28 which filter dye (see Figs. 9 audio).

of a substance such as'- colg the developing. fixing substantially trans- Y. dyeing said emu1` said coated minute of nent to which with a dye adapted minute substantially transparent areas of col-` lodion, dyeing said emulsion in the areas between said coated minute transparent areas with a soluble dye adapted to filter out a substantial portion" of light to which said emulsion is sensitive, exposing, developing, fixing, and washing said light sensitive emulsion and removing said soluble dye therefrom, and finally absorbing a dye of the selected color in the surface of the emulsion exposed between said collodion areas.

3. The method .of producing a colored photograph which comprises, providing a'support paper which is readily permeable to photographic emulsion processing solutions, coating said paper with a light sensitive emulsion, coating said emulsion with a dye impermeable layer, coating said dye impermeable layer with a multiplicity of minute spaced areas of dye absorbing substance, said dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to filter out a substantial portionof light to which said emulsion is' sensitive, exposing said emulsion through said dyed layer, developing, fixing and washing said emulsion through the back of said support paper and removing said soluble dye and finally coloring the said multiplicity of dye absorbing areas with at least one selected color.

.4. The method of producing'colored transparencies which comprises, providing transparent emulsion support, coating said transparent support on one side with a multiplicity of minute spaced areas of dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to filter out a substantial portion of light to which a photographic' emulsion is sensitive, coating the other sideY of said support with a light sensitive emulsion, exposing said emulsion through the support, developing, fixing 4and washing said emulsion and removing said filter dye, and finally coloring said dye absorbing substance rcolor.

5. The method of producing colored photographs which comprises, providing a'thin transparent base, coatingone side of said base with a clear dye 4absorbing layer, coating said dye absorbing layer with a multiplicity of minute substantially white translucent areas of a substance in which a dye is not absorbed, dyeing said dye absorbing layer between said translucent areas to filter out a substantial portion of light, to which a light sensitive' emulsion is-sensitive, coating the other side of said transparent base with a light sensitive emulsion, exposing said emulsion throughsaid base, developing, fixing andwashing said emulsion and removing said dye and finally coloring said dye absorbing layer between said translucent areas with at least one substantially opaque color, said photograph adapted to be viewed from the side having the light sensitive emulsion thereon.

6. The method of preparing Vphotographic 'films particularly adapted for use in producing colored photographs with opaque colors which comprises, providing a thin transparent base, coating one side of said base with a clear dye absorbing layer, coating said dye absorbing layer with a multiwith at least one selected a light sensitive emulsion is sensitive, and coating theother side of said transparent base with a light sensitive emulsion.

7. An article of manufacture comprising, a thin *transparent base coated on one side with a clear dye absorbing layer, said dye absorbing layer havin'g superposed thereon a multiplicity ofminute substantially white translucent areas of a sub,-

stance in which a dye is not absorbed, the portion of said dye absorbing layer between said minute areas being dyed with a dye adapted to lter out a substantial portion 'of light to which a light sensitive emulsion Vis sensitive, 'and the other side of said base being coated with a light sensitive emulsion.

8. The method of preparing photographic films particularly adapted for use in producing 'colored transparencies which comprises, providing a transparent emulsion support, coating said support on one side with a multiplicityof minute spaced areas of dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to lter out a substantial portion of light to which a photographic emulsion is sensitive, and coating the other side of said support with a light sensitive emulsion.-

A9. An article of manufacture comprising, a transparent emulsion support coated on one side with a multiplicity of minute` spaced areas of dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to filter out a substantial portion of light to which a photographic emulsion is sensitive, the other side of said support being coated with a light sensitive emulsion.

plicity of minute substantially white translucent areas of a substance inwhich a dye is not absorbed, dyeing said dye absorbing layer between said translucent areas with a dye adapted to lter out a substantial portion of the light to which 10. The method of producing photographic papers particularly adapted for use in producing colored photographs which comprises, pro'- viding a support paper which is readily permeable to photographic emulsion processing solutions, coating said paper with a light sensitive emulsion, coating said emulsion with a dye impermeable layer, coating saiddye impermeable layer with a multiplicity of minute spaced areas of dye absorbing substance, said dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to filter out a 'substantial portion of light to which said emulsion is sensitive.

11. An article of manufacture comprising. an emulsion support paper which is readily permeable to photographic emulsion processing solutions, said paper being coated on one side with a light sensitive emulsion, said emulsion being coated with a dye impermeable layer, said dye` impermeable layer being coated with a multiplicity of minute spaced areas of dye absorbing substance and said dye absorbing substance having therein a soluble dye adapted to lter out a substantial portion of light to which said emul-` sion is sensitive.

l2. The method of producing a colored photographic image which comprises producing upon a support a monochromatic image made up of a multiplicity of minute spaced areas lying beneath a substance to which a coloring agent will not adhere substantially coextensive with said areas, interspersing said areas with iight tone areas of juxtaposed portions of said monochromatic image lying beneath a surface to which a coloring agent will adhere, applying color to the face of `said images so as to color the areas to which the coloring agent will adhere, Vwhereby the resulting image will be composed of `a multiplicity of spaced minute clear monochromatic areas interspersed with a minute clear colored areas. i

13. The-method of `producing colored photomultiplicity of spaced tween said minute areas, subjecting the entire print to a dye absorbable in said gelatin emulsion, whereby said dye aiects only said bleached areas, and finally removing said grease ink.-

14. A method 'of producing a colored photo- 10 graphic image which comprises, applying a resist to minute spaced areas in an image' support, g

treating the space between said spaced areas whereby the intensity of the photographic image space between said minute areas, anddippingl said image into coloring whereby the coloring adheres to the spaces unprotected by. said resist.

15. Al method of producing a colored' photographic image which comprises, applying a resist to minute spaced'areas on an image support, treating the spaces between said minute,

spaced areas whereby the intensity of the photographic image will be reduced, producing a monochromatic photographic image in said minute areas and juxtaposed portions of the monochromatic photographic image of less intensity in the space between said minute areas, and subjecting the entire image to coloring whereby the color will be reduced,'producing a photographic image 16 adects only said image of less intensity.

- in said minute areas and juxtaposed portions o! the photographic image of lesser intensity in the JOSE LUIS MARIANI PIAZZA- 

